Steam boiler



P atehted Nov.'29, I898.

J. WEIR.

- STEAM BOILER.

(Application Mud on. 11, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Shut I.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 29, I898.

' .1. wzm. STEAM BOILER.

(Application filed Oct. 11, 1897;)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES P TENT FFICE,

JAMES IVEIR, OF OATI-IOART, SCOTLAND.

STEAM-BOILER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 614,912, dated ovember 29, 1898.

Application filed October 11,1897. Serial No. 654,870. (No model.)

i To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I,JAMEs WEIR, a subject of Her Majesty the Queen of Great Britain, residing at Holm Foundry, Oathcart, in the county of Renfrew, Scotland, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Tubulous Steam-Boilers, (for which I have obtained the Russia on October 12, 1897, and in Germany October 7, 1897,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in tubulous steam-boilers, the object of same being to increase the efficiency by obtaining a more complete combustion of the fuel and to render them safer against damage by overheating and easier of access for examination.

In the accompanying drawings, Figures 1 to 8 show in transverse section various arrangements of parts by which the invention may be carried into effect, while Fig. 9 is part of a front elevation.

In all the figures the same reference-letters are used to indicate corresponding parts.

According to the invention the lower ends of the tubes are fixed in the lower horizontal drums or shells B and are divided into two or more groups C and D, the group O being carried over the furnace E in contact with the fire or through the path of the gases from the fire and are led up into and fixed in the upper drum A, as in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8, while those forming the other group, D, are

' curved in an opposite direction and led up into and fixed in the upper drum A. By this arrangement or combination of tubes is obtained an inclosed space between the two groups of tubes 0 and D sufficient to form an efficient combustion-chamber G. The walls of said combustion-chamber are formed by the tubes and by fire-brick tiles or other non combustible material closing up the spaces between the tubes. These walls or baffles I are arranged to permit the entrance of the gases through a contracted opening M into the combustion-chamber G, from whence they escape by means of an outlet N. The furnace E is arranged at the same or at a lower level than the lower horizontal drum B and is fired through the door F.

The flames and gases from the fire E pass up among and along the furnace group of tubes O and over the bridge through the narrow opening M into the wide combustionchamber G, where a whirling or eddying ac tion is secured and where prior to escape they have room and time to mix and combine with the air, so as to secure a very efficient combustion. The gases then pass out of the chamber G, beneath a further bridge, through the opening N in the group of tubes D, and circulate through such group and on toward the chimney H, as shown by the arrows. In Figs. 3 and 4 group D is somewhat separated, so as to form a second chamber or fiue. The gases in this construction would make a double traverse among the tubes after leaving the combustion chamber G before being discharged into the chimney.

In Fig. 6, which shows. a double-fronted boiler, the two groups of tubes connecting the lower and upper drums are curved outward on each side of the drums A and B. The space between the groups is formed into a combustion-chamber by the division-walls I, the lower walls I being carried across the tubes and dividing each group into a lower or furnace part 0 and an upper or uptake part D. The partof the tubes between the lower drum and the cross dividing-wall I corresponds with the C group, and the part between the dividing-wall and the upper drum corresponds to the group D in the other figures, and these parts are lettered accordingly. The flame and gases from the fire pass through the contracted opening M into the combustion-chamber G and then pass out by the opening N, among the tubes, toward the chimn'ey II.

The tubes are arranged in parallel rows circumferentially, and the parallel spaces between them are made equal or slightly greater than the outside diameter of the tubes to permit of the withdrawal of any defective tube through this space. By increasing the number of the groups of tubes shown in the figures in a longitudinal direction the required size' of boiler is obtained.

The relative number of tubes in the two groups C and D may be varied; but in all cases it is preferable to have the D group greatest. The C group may even be reduced to a single row with particular advantage when using inferior bituminous fuel. When tubes of different diameter are used, the largest should be put in the group C next the furnace.

The boiler may be inclosed in a casing in the usual manner, lined with non-combustible material, the transverse wall of the furnaces and combustion -chambers being by preference of firebrick. here extreme lightness is desired, water tubes could be used, as shown by Fig. 5. Also the combustion-chamber walls may be formed of tubes, as shown in said figure.

Openings fitted with doors K are made on the outer casing J to admit air to the front of the boiler for the purpose of diminishing the draft and damping down the fires in cases such as when the engines are stopped with heavy fires on, and thus rendering the tubes less liable to damage. The openings K may also be used for cleaning purposes.

The hollow legs or extensions L may form receptacles for dirt and also for supporting the boiler.

The usual manhole-doors are arranged in the drums, and the ordinary boiler-mountings 5 are fitted.

\Vhat I claim is 1. In tubulous steam-boilers and in combination, a top steam-drum, a bottom waterdrum, two or more sets or nests of tubes connecting said drums, said tubes being so arranged as to form a large mixing and combustion chamber, and baffle-walls directing the flame and gases into and through said mixing and combustion chamber prior to traversing the main portion of the tubes, substantially as set forth.

2. I11 a tubulous steam-boiler, the combination of an upper and a lower drum, bafiieplates arranged to form two or more contracted channels or openings and one or more intermediate empty, enlarged mixing and combustion chambers with which said con= tracted channels communicate, a furnacechamber from which one of the channels leads, and series of water-tubes extending through each contracted channel and connecting the upper and lower water-drums,

substantially as described.

3. A tubular steam-boiler comprising a furmace-chamber having a tortuous channel lead ing therefrom and an enlarged, empty c0mbustion-chamber intersecting said channel, upper and lower Water-drums, and watertubes extending through the tortuous channels and connecting the water-drums, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES WEIR.

Vv itnessesz DAN. W. MACFARLANE, ABE MURDocH. 

